Grade pitch indicator



NOV. 1 1949. WHITE 2,486,597

GRADE PITCH INDICATOR Filed May 21, 1947 ATTU R N EYS Patented Nov. 1,1949 UNITED STATES P TENT OFFlCE This invention relates to a grade pitchindicator for grade cutting machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a grade pitchindicator which can be placed upon the top of the grade cutting machinewhere it can be Watched by the operator and to indicate while themachine is in operation the pitch at which th grade is being cut and toindicate to the operator any variance or departure from the grade pitchwhich is supposed to be maintained by the grade cutting machine.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a grade pitchindicator which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture,easy to mount on the grade cutting machine and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. '1 is a rearelevational view of a grade cutting machine in operation and with thegrade indicator mounted upon the same to indicate the pitch or the gradebeing cut by the machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the grade pitchindicator.

1 Claim. (01. 33220) Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the support for the Weightindicating element.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the support.

Referring now to the figures, I0 represents a grading machine or tractorhaving a scraper blade I I attached thereto and a rear wheel support I2.This grade cutting machine, as shown in Fig. 1, is operating upon theground to cut a grade and on the top of the same there is mounted mygrade pitch indicator I3 embodying the features of the presentinvention. This indicator I3 includes a main support or frame I4 adaptedto be attached to the top of the grade cutting machine by bolts l5extending downwardly through feet portions or flanges I 6 on the bottomof the support I4 and into the top of the grade cutting machine. Alongthe bottom of the support is an arcuat shaped portion or web I! having ameasuring scale I8 thereon with the zero indication at the center andwith negative and positiv indications extending respectively fromopposite sides of the zero indication to indicate the angle which themachine is operating and the grade being cut by the scraper blade I I.

At the top of the support, there is provided directly above the zeroindication a hub having an opening I9 through which extends a bolt orpin 2| on which is pivoted as indicated at 22 a pendulum or arm 23having a ball Weight 24 and a pointing portion 25. The pointing portion25 extends over the scale I8 and will indicate the degrees at which thescraper blade is tilted. The shaft 22 has a head portion 26 adapted toretain a spring 21 which reacts upon the upper end of the pendulum 23 toretain the same against axial displacement upon the bolt 2|. The tensionof the spring 27 can be adjusted by turning a wing nut 28.

In operation the ball weight 24 will cause the pendulum 23 to swing andto give an indication to the operator of the grade cutting machine, thegrade which is being cut. If the operator has departed from the desiredgrade an adjustment will be made of the scraper blade upon the machineto bring the machine to the proper grade and the pendulum to the properposition so that it indicates the' true grade angl upon the scale I8.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a level indicator, the combination which comprises a verticallydisposed substantially open frame having end posts with outwardlyextended foot flanges with bolt holes therein, the upper ends of saidposts connected by inwardly and up- Wardly sloping arms carrying ahorizontally disposed centrally positioned hub, and the lower ends ofsaid posts connected by an arcuate intermediate web, the upper inneredge of which is on a radius described from the center of the hub of theupwardly sloping arms, said web having a graduated scale thereon, a pinhaving a head on the forward end and with the opposite end threadedcarried by the hub, an arm having a ball Weight on the lower end andprovided with a pointer below the weight, pivotally mounted on said pin,a spring between the head of the pin and arm frictionally holding thearm to restrict swinging thereof, and a thumb nut on the opposite end ofthe pin for adjusting the tension on the spring.

ALFRED G. WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

